Welcome to Ermington Rainbow Cottage.

The centre is licensed for 26 children between the ages of 0-6 years. Our hours are from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday. This centre is closed on all Public Holidays. Fees apply for public holidays, school holidays, parent holidays and sick days.

Our centre provides a sensory-based program for our toddlers. Children of this age group explore to familiarise themselves with their environment through the use of their senses. Our program is based around the children’s daily routine, catering for each individual. We share many language experiences with the children, providing them with sound and word play and vocabulary. These children are only involved in small group interactions, which are developmentally appropriate in-group size. The staff place importance on family involvement which helps to create the special bond between the child, the carers and family, working as partners is the best way to cater for children’s individual needs.

Our centre places focus on staff sharing many one to one experiences and for this reason we limit the number of children in this group. The children are given many opportunities to develop in all areas of their own level and pace.

Our centre runs an educational program in line with Emergent Curriculum, that provides for all the children’s developmental needs. Each day we have an indoor program, an outdoor program, a music group and language groups.

Each day the children take part in a large group music session in which they develop important skills. Our centre places a high importance upon language development. During this time we develop their confidence in speaking to peers and adults, concentration, learning about our world, pre writing and pre-reading skills. From the beginning of the year, children who are going off to school greatly benefit from the school readiness program, which enables them to make a smooth transition into school.

Staff observe children regularly, which enables us to program individual activities for them and also target an area that the group may need to develop. All programs are displayed for parents to consult and staff welcome parents input.

The centre has three separate class group “infants and toddlers”, “preschoolers” and “kindergarten”. All groups have their own daily routine, program and group sessions. These are developed to cater for individual children’s developmental level.

Our centre provides for individual, small and whole group experiences. Staff knowledge in child development is used to determine group experiences. The children spend the majority of the day one developmentally appropriate group, with the freedom to choose to be involved in small groups or solitary play.

The centre promotes healthy and balanced eating habits through its set guidelines, programming and by staff modelling appropriate eating habits. Water is available for children at all times.

Children are offered a hot lunch and snacks throughout the day. Menu is displayed for parents. A catering company provides all meals for the centre. Meals are safely stored and reheated as instructed by the caterer.

We welcome all enquiries and questions and look forward to showing you our centre.

The operation of this centre reflects the values of all families, children, staff and the wider community that attend the centre. We believe that each child has the right to play and learn as well as receive quality care within a safe environment. Each child is encouraged to achieve a positive self-concept and develop to its full potential. The centres practices will ensure that all children will be respected as individuals.

A relevant individualised, anti bias emergent curriculum invites children to play, develop their curiosity skills, investigate and experiment that’s encouraged by both staff and parents working cohesively together. The staff teach children about their environment and how to use natural material in their everyday learning to work towards becoming an eco friendly centre.

It is our belief that parents and staff need to work together in order for each child to reach his/her full potential. The program runs as an extension to the home and the children’s previous experiences. The centre has an “Open Door” policy and we encourage as much family participation as possible. Staff at the centre is highly trained and provide a friendly, secure, educational and stimulating environment. We encourage children to learn through creativity and exploration.

The centre’s program is holistic and takes into account all aspects of a child’s development – cognitive, physical, social, emotional and language. Staff are sensitive to individual needs, which may arise due to cultural diversity, gender or special needs. The centre plays an active and valuable role in preparing children for school.